AR/VR tools and platform in decision-making process
Different 3D and/or visualiSation techniques of Virtual Reality (VR) and/or Augmented Reality (AR) are being used during the development of the Oslo and Palma demos to better communicate results of different scenario analyses to different types of stakeholders, to facilitate citizen engagement, and to promote education and training for sustainability. The development of VR and […]
Post-occupancy evaluation for assessment of occupant satisfaction
Post-Occupancy Evaluations (POEs) offer valuable insight into occupant satisfaction by combining real-time indoor environmental monitoring with user feedback. Over 15 days in both summer and winter, sensors track temperature, humidity, and COâ‚‚ levels in homes, while nearby weather stations provide external data. Occupants complete surveys assessing their perception of air quality, thermal, visual, and acoustic […]
IAQ monitoring platform
The IAQ platform is a combined Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) sensor and a user-friendly web interface. The IAQ sensor measures various quantities defining the indoor environment such as temperature, humidity, CO2 concentration, VOC concentration, particulate matter (optional), and barometric pressure. The measured quantities are then used to inform the user, directly control technology in the […]
Smart building control optimisation
Smart building energy systems help save energy and reduce costs. They do this by storing extra solar power in batteries and using that stored energy when electricity from the grid is most expensive. These systems also run heat pumps and store heat when there’s plenty of solar power. They charge or discharge the battery at […]
Integrated circular and resilient design for zero-emission building refurbishment
A design guideline supporting the decision making in design process in nZEB buildings.
Involvement of tenants and citizens
A data-driven method to engage tenants in energy efficiency improvements. The approach focuses on increasing residents’ awareness of their energy consumption and motivating them to change behaviour in order to achieve measurable energy savings. Different tools can be tested and selected to communicate energy-saving actions effectively and to identify when residents are most receptive to […]
Solar PV smart battery systems
Solar PV scale smart battery systems are an integrated energy solution that combines rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels with on-site battery storage in large residential buildings. The system is designed to demonstrate and monitor how locally produced solar energy can be stored and optimally used at building and neighbourhood scale, increasing self-consumption, reducing grid dependency, […]
Application of low-carbon concrete
Low-carbon concrete with 40% lower embodied emissions than the current standard has effectively been applied in the Voldsløkka demo site in Oslo. The low-carbon concrete class A7 used in Voldsløkka has a carbon footprint of 220-240 kg/m3, depending on use, compared to typical concrete has an emission-factor of 400-410 kg/m3. Concrete was used in the […]
Timber-based construction, refurbishment and superelevation scenarios
Timber-based scenarios for new and existing buildings to enhance the use of wood as a circular construction-renovation material combined with forefront sustainable and energy saving technologies, nature-based solutions, and compound performance and comfort monitoring systems. The first scenario is the construction of a new wooden-based positive energy building located in in an area currently used […]
A School as Living Lab for climate awareness-raising
Raising climate awareness among citizens requires a multi-faceted approach, with educational facilities playing a key role in sustainability education. At Oslo’s Voldsløkka school, Living Lab engagement activities target secondary school and cultural school pupils, their parents, and the wider neighbourhood community. The activities focus on the energy transition and circularity, including energy technologies and building […]
System for fixing ‘Renew-Wall’ elements to existing wall
A new fixing system was developed for attaching Renew-Wall prefabricated energy renovation panels to existing building walls. Through on-site trials and lab testing, various options were evaluated for improved speed, safety, reversibility, and ease of installation, including steel brackets, threaded rods, and systems inspired by ventilated curtain walls. The final solution, used in the Povo […]
Climate-adapted design for surface water solutions
The school courtyard was redesigned as a park with varied vegetation heights and a combination of permeable and natural surfaces, covering at least 30% of the outdoor area. The design supports local surface water management by retaining and infiltrating rainwater on site, in line with the City of Oslo’s approach to reducing runoff impacts on […]
In-situ and stand-alone monitoring system for BIPV in buildings
The Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) monitoring system helps evaluate how different solar panel technologies perform once they are part of a building façade. It measures each panel’s voltage, current, power output, and surface temperature. Tracking temperature is key, as it shows how the panels might affect indoor comfort by heating up the façade. All sensor data […]
Comfort-driven ventilation system
One of the main challenges when it comes to designing energy efficient buildings is how to guarantee air renewal without heat losses. A possible solution is to use a variable flow ventilation method. Fresh air is preheated in an intermeadiate capturing space before introducing it into the dwellings. Through automatically regulated bioclimatic elements, it is […]
Forecasting and control of LowEx system
This solution explores the integration of a low-exergy ground-source heat pump with Thermally Activated Building Systems (TABS) to deliver efficient heating and cooling in buildings, focusing on a pilot site in Oslo. While TABS enhance energy efficiency by leveraging the thermal inertia of concrete structures, their slow response time currently leads to poor indoor comfort […]
Digital design for optimal life-cycle performance
BIM and Digital Twins are used to optimise building performance from environmental and economic perspectives. The approach enables a comprehensive evaluation across the building lifecycle, including environmental impact, costs, and energy use, as well as aspects such as community inclusivity, use of indoor and outdoor spaces, water management, noise and pollution, and architectural quality.
Off-site production methods for modern methods of construction
Analysis and catalogue of EU-funded projects related to Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) using dry and off-site techniques for building energy renovation. The standardized catalogue of modular solutions—covering materials, systems, and integration methods— aims to shift from traditional on-site processes to off-site, thereby reducing costs and time while enhancing quality. Despite each project’s unique features, […]
Energy transition Living Lab
An educational platform for citizens, primarily focusing on youth. The core of this approach involves a series of seminars conducted with middle and high school students.
‘Renew-wall’ pre-fabricated modules for renovation of existing buildings
Renew-Wall, developed in 2017 by wood manufacturer Fanti Legnami, is an innovative prefabricated timber façade system designed for easy, scaffold-free installation on existing residential buildings. Combining insulation, customizable finishes, and integration of windows and systems, it enhances both energy performance and aesthetics. Its first real-world application took place on an inhabited apartment building in Trento […]
Es Laboratori
Es Laboratori is a community development and citizen participation methodology, demo and exhibition space in the area and a hub for citizen engagement towards energy transition in urban spaces and new sustainable technologies. Linked to local energy communities around schools, Es Laboratori will engage a set of training actions and awareness increasing campaigns with special […]
Circular design strategies for renovation and new construction
Circular design strategies for renovation and new construction, as demonstrated in the Oslo demo project, focus on preserving and reusing existing structures and materials to minimise waste and retain historical value. This includes maintaining architectural elements such as façades, cornices, columns, and radiators, while re-establishing lost features using historical documentation. Energy efficiency upgrades are implemented […]
Leanheat intelligent heating control system
Danfoss Leanheat Building is an AI-based software and control system used to manage heating at building level. It replaces the traditional approach based on a fixed relationship between heating supply temperature and outdoor temperature, known as weather compensation. Instead, the solution combines an adaptive dynamic building model with weather forecasts and measured indoor temperatures from […]
Energy coaching of residents to reduce energy poverty
Energy coaching aims to help and support the tenants of the dwellings which are and/or have been refurbished by social housing providers. This coaching helps tenants to better understand the energy performance of their home and to optimise their energy consumption.
Low-temperature thermal heating and high temperature thermal cooling (LowEx) HVAC system
This low-temperature heating and high temperature cooling HVAC system (LowEx) is a novel system which delivers low-temperature thermal heating and high temperature thermal cooling by using the infrastructure coupled with the ground source heat pump. It is designed to maximize the effectiveness of ground source heat pump systems.
Advanced control and monitoring system for HVAC assets
A new smart controller helps heat pump systems run more efficiently and reliably. It uses two advanced tools in a small, easy-to-use device. It consists of a model predictive control (MPC) algorithm that looks at weather forecasts, building use, and energy prices to run heating and cooling at the best times to reduce energy costs. […]
Local renewable energy generation with BIPV and BAPV
Coloured PV panels installed on the roof and façade of a building to maximise renewable energy production and provide surplus energy. The design of the PV modules layouts is defined by the PV modules orientation in relation to the sky, the orientation of building longest facades, and the regulatory provision regarding the appearance of the […]
Deep energy renovation of cultural heritage office buildings
The deep energy renovation of protected office buildings, as demonstrated by the GESA building project in Palma de Mallorca, is a comprehensive approach that significantly improves energy performance and sustainability while preserving the building’s historical and architectural value. It combines passive and active strategies—such as prefabricated ventilated façades with Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) and high-efficiency […]
Urban energy geostructure in highway tunnels as seasonal storage
The study, design, and testing of a system to retrofit and thermally activate an existing tunnel (in operation or abandoned) for an energy purpose not envisaged originally. The system includes a network of pipes capable of transporting a heat transfer fluid. A prototype of such a system is being investigated by means of preliminary numerical […]
BIM procedures for façade panel design
The BIM procedure for façade panel design in building renovation focuses on streamlining the development of prefabricated timber panels for off-site manufacturing through a fully digitalised, integrated workflow. It involves two key phases: design and production digitalisation. The process begins with fast, cost-effective building surveys using technologies like scanning and photogrammetry to generate 3D point […]
